Another front light thread

daddy0

My Lezyne Powerdrive XL has died. It seems to charge, but then wont turn on. Its probably the battery, so does anyone know where to buy a cheap replacement?

I'll be needing another front light anyway, the EPO has finished spawning and will be cycling to new job in Jan. So please recommend me a front light(s). Needs to be bright enough to light up country lanes at least as well as a Powerdrive XL, and have enough battery to last at least an hour (don' they all?). Also needs to be CHEAP. It'd be nice if it would last a few years too... I know I know, its probably a pick 2 type of affair?

Thinking that one of these might be sufficient? Anyone used one?
http://www.wiggle.com/lifeline-performance-500-lumen-front-light/
http://www.wiggle.com/lifeline-performance-700-lumen-front-light/

Cheers!

UndercoverElephant

Can't do better than a bit of German engineering for riding on the road.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/busch-mueller-ixon-core-iq2-led-headlight-106439/wg_id-1402

The beam pattern from the these is the same as my dynamo light, perfect, wide illumination of the road ahead.

slowbike

Not so cheap - but with your length and regularity of commute I'd strongly recommend a dynamo hub linked with an appopriate headlight - a friend uses one for audaxes ... it's as bright as my Cateye nanoshot + and lasts longer than he rides (it has a bit of capacity for when the bike is stopped)

UndercoverElephant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19756811#p19756811]Slowbike[/url] wrote:

Not so cheap - but with your length and regularity of commute I'd strongly recommend a dynamo hub linked with an appopriate headlight - a friend uses one for audaxes ... it's as bright as my Cateye nanoshot + and lasts longer than he rides (it has a bit of capacity for when the bike is stopped)

Just so happens I'll have a spare dynamo front wheel available sometime after Christmas. I even have a spare front light. Probably not the cheapest option, but definitely the best option.

mtb-idle

or failing that a £20 Cree light off the Bay of E.

Bought mine 15 months ago and it's still going strong through it's second winter. One full charge of the battery will get me 9 hours of commuting on the low beam which is more than enough to see and be seen.

daddy0

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm thinking the cheap CREE is the way to go, but how much do you want for the dynamo UE?

I have reserved a Lezyne Macro Drive at Hellfords, just over £40 with BC 10% discount. Still umming and arring:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/lezyne-macro-drive-600xl-loaded-front-light-kit

UndercoverElephant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757199#p19757199]Daddy0[/url] wrote:

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm thinking the cheap CREE is the way to go, but how much do you want for the dynamo UE?

I have reserved a Lezyne Macro Drive at Hellfords, just over £40 with BC 10% discount. Still umming and arring:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/lezyne-macro-drive-600xl-loaded-front-light-kit

It's an Ultegra grade Shimano 3N80 laced with Sapim Race spokes to a H Plus Son TB14 wide-profile rim. It's had about one winter since building. The light is a B+M IQ Cyo (which has a slight problem with the switch, sometimes it needs turning on twice, but never any more than that and it's rock solid when on). Not sure quite how much, but it'd have to be nearing £100.

dhope

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757381#p19757381]UndercoverElephant[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757199#p19757199]Daddy0[/url] wrote:

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm thinking the cheap CREE is the way to go, but how much do you want for the dynamo UE?

I have reserved a Lezyne Macro Drive at Hellfords, just over £40 with BC 10% discount. Still umming and arring:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/lezyne-macro-drive-600xl-loaded-front-light-kit

It's an Ultegra grade Shimano 3N80 laced with Sapim Race spokes to a H Plus Son TB14 wide-profile rim. It's had about one winter since building. The light is a B+M IQ Cyo (which has a slight problem with the switch, sometimes it needs turning on twice, but never any more than that and it's rock solid when on). Not sure quite how much, but it'd have to be nearing £100.

£90 hub on a £50 rim with £15 spokes and a £35 light, plus £25 build
Sounds pretty reasonable 8)

UndercoverElephant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757432#p19757432]dhope[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757381#p19757381]UndercoverElephant[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757199#p19757199]Daddy0[/url] wrote:

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm thinking the cheap CREE is the way to go, but how much do you want for the dynamo UE?

I have reserved a Lezyne Macro Drive at Hellfords, just over £40 with BC 10% discount. Still umming and arring:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/lezyne-macro-drive-600xl-loaded-front-light-kit

It's an Ultegra grade Shimano 3N80 laced with Sapim Race spokes to a H Plus Son TB14 wide-profile rim. It's had about one winter since building. The light is a B+M IQ Cyo (which has a slight problem with the switch, sometimes it needs turning on twice, but never any more than that and it's rock solid when on). Not sure quite how much, but it'd have to be nearing £100.

£90 hub on a £50 rim with £15 spokes and a £35 light, plus £25 build
Sounds pretty reasonable 8)

Maybe I should just eBay it...

Edit: Oh, and it's not quite as nice as the one I just built for the new bike...

Red-anodized Shutter Precision disk hub, black DT Swiss Competition spokes and Stan's Grail disk rim. Very, very nice indeed.

dhope

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757501#p19757501]UndercoverElephant[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757432#p19757432]dhope[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757381#p19757381]UndercoverElephant[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757199#p19757199]Daddy0[/url] wrote:

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm thinking the cheap CREE is the way to go, but how much do you want for the dynamo UE?

I have reserved a Lezyne Macro Drive at Hellfords, just over £40 with BC 10% discount. Still umming and arring:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-lights-locks/bike-lights/lezyne-macro-drive-600xl-loaded-front-light-kit

It's an Ultegra grade Shimano 3N80 laced with Sapim Race spokes to a H Plus Son TB14 wide-profile rim. It's had about one winter since building. The light is a B+M IQ Cyo (which has a slight problem with the switch, sometimes it needs turning on twice, but never any more than that and it's rock solid when on). Not sure quite how much, but it'd have to be nearing £100.

£90 hub on a £50 rim with £15 spokes and a £35 light, plus £25 build
Sounds pretty reasonable 8)

Maybe I should just eBay it...

Edit: Oh, and it's not quite as nice as the one I just built for the new bike...

Red-anodized Shutter Precision disk hub, black DT Swiss Competition spokes and Stan's Grail disk rim. Very, very nice indeed.

Hah, I was just pondering a disc hub dynamo. Not pondering seriously as I've just had a lovely Goldtec/Stans Grail disc wheelset built for the fixed, but if I'd thought of it a few months back...

porlyworly

Phlips SafeRide is fantastic for unlit country road riding, it doesn't seem to be that bright but when you use it in the dark it lights up a massive square of road. It's heavy but solidly built, USB rechargeable as well. I commute daily so it gets used morning and night and I've had no issues.